Electoral Trends and Political Dynamics of Punjab Province
Abstract
The electoral process is an integral part of a democratic system. It is the legitimate and constitutional way of coming into power and governing the state. Consistency in the process of elections and a transparent electoral process strengthens the overall political development in the state. The electoral system of Pakistan encompasses multiple factors including identity, party affiliation, local grouping, and provincial-based issues. Punjab has a vital role in the overall political dynamics of Pakistan. In this context, this paper entails a quantitative and qualitative study of the main electoral trends of Punjab. It is being observed that political party-based association, local groupings, factors of caste, biradari, ideology, and religious identities are the main contributing factors in defining the voting behavior and constituency trend in Punjab.
Authors
Yawar Hayat Shah
PhD Scholar Political Science, Department of Political Science, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
Gulshan Majeed
Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
Keywords
Biradari, Electoral Trends, Local Politics, Punjab, Voting Behavior